Senoia

Senoia (/s ə ˈ n ɔɪ ə / ) is a city located 35 minutes south of Atlanta in Coweta County, Georgia, United States. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. Its population was 5,016 at the 2020 census.[5]

The first permanent settlement in the area was made in 1860 by Rev. Francis Warren Baggarly. In 1864, around the time residents of the nearby Willow Dell community began to arrive, the settlement was named Senoia. A number of the area’s first structures appeared this year, such as a mercantile building known as the Rock House and a Methodist Episcopal church led by Baggarly. A high school would open the following year in 1865. Senoia was officially incorporated as a city on December 12, 1866.[6] [7]

Senoia is located in southeastern Coweta County at 33°18′7″N 84°33′12″W  /  33.30194°N 84.55333°W  / 33.30194; -84.55333 (33.301849, -84.553450).[8] It is bordered to the north by Peachtree City in Fayette County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Senoia has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14.1 km2), of which 5.4 square miles (13.9 km2) is land and 0.12 square miles (0.3 km2), or 2.03%, is water.[9]

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,016 people, 1,387 households, and 1,169 families residing in the city.

At the 2010 U.S.census,[12] there were 3,307 people, 1,175 households and 946 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 80.3% White, 14.5% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.6% of the population.

At the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 632 households, of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

The median household income was $50,080 and the median family income was $56,382. Males had a median income of $36,000 versus $27,900 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,819. About 5.6% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

The derivation of the name "Senoia" is difficult to determine. There are four main theories:

Riverwood Studios is located in Senoia. Such movies as Fried Green Tomatoes, Driving Miss Daisy and the 2011 remake of Footloose were partly filmed in the town.[13]

Following its first season, principal production of The Walking Dead has been filmed in Riverwood Studios (doing business as Raleigh Studios Atlanta), a plot of land about 140 acres (0.57 km2) outside of Senoia.[14][15] Downtown Senoia itself served as the set for a fictionalized version of the community of Woodbury during the third season of the show.[16] Fans of the show have flocked to try to catch shooting, a development that has met with a negative reception from some town residents, while others have found the added tourists helpful for business growth.[17]

Senoia has been chosen twice to host the Southern Living Idea House, in 2010 and 2012. The Idea Houses are designer showcases of the finest trends in home design and furnishings.